Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace team up for Child 44

'The Dark Knight Rises' actor plans to team up with 'Prometheus' actress Noomi Rapace in the 1950s-set thriller which follows a disgraced Soviet police officer who tries to solve a string of gruesome child murders.

The pair have only just signed up to star opposite one other in 'Animal Rescue', but are now negotiating roles in 'Safe House' director Daniel Espinosa's new project.

British star Tom is in line to play the officer, who has been wrongly framed for treason by a colleague, while Noomi will portray his seemingly-doting wife, a woman hiding complex secrets from him.

The script has been in development since 2008 and was adapted from a Tom Rob Smith novel by 'The Wire's Richard Price.

The pair will first shoot Michael Roskam's 'Animal Rescue' in March, which is based on a short story by Dennis Lahane.

The plot follows a criminal (Tom) who tries to straighten out his life, but becomes involved in a failed heist and a death caused by a lost pitbull. Noomi will play Nadia, who crosses paths with him when he finds a wounded puppy outside her home.

Filming for 'Child 44' is expected to kick off shortly afterwards in Budapest in May.